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Death Of Philip Seymour Hoffman Puts Spotlight On Addiction

US actor Philip Seymour Hoffman arrives for the screening of "The Master" during the 69th Venice Film Festival on September 1 , 2012 at Venice Lido. "The Master" is competing for the Golden Lion in the Venezia 69 section of the festival. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/GettyImages)US actor Philip Seymour Hoffman arrives for the screening of 'The Master' during the 69th Venice Film Festival on September 1 , 2012 at Venice Lido. 'The Master' is competing for the Golden Lion in the Venezia 69 section of the festival. (credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/GettyImages)

DETROIT (WWJ) – Fans are reeling over the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman after he died Sunday of an apparent heroin overdose.

Although he’d been sober for 23 years, the Oscar winner was very candid about a recent relapse that included developing a heroin problem, and ending up in rehab.

Scott Masi, an addiction specialist with Brighton Center for Recovery, says high-profile cases like Hoffman’s highlight the struggle more than 20 million Americans live with everyday.

“I don’t want to use the word ‘recovery’, I want to use the words ‘remission’, because that might get this some understanding as to it being a chronic disease,” Masi said. “Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain.”

Masi estimates fewer than 10 percent of people who need substance abuse help actually get it, because of issues like stigma and lack of funding.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact the Detroit-Wayne Mental Health Authority – 24 hour crisis hotline 800-241-4949 or at this link. You can get in touch with the Brighton Center for Recovery at 877-976-2371, or at this link.